What does צַלְמָוֶת (ṣalmāweṯ) mean in the Bible?
צַלְמָוֶת (ṣalmāweṯ): Metaphorical darkness evoking death's proximity; captures existential dread without naming death directly, used of grave dangers and divine judgment.
Hebrew · H6757
צַלְמָוֶת
Shade of death , i.e. the grave (figuratively, calamity )
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צַלְמָוֶתH6757
Pronunciationṣalmāweṯ
What does צַלְמָוֶת (ṣalmāweṯ) mean in the Bible?
צַלְמָוֶת (ṣalmāweṯ): Metaphorical darkness evoking death's proximity; captures existential dread without naming death directly, used of grave dangers and divine judgment.
Full entry for צַלְמָוֶת (H6757) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6757?
The BSB source-word alignment has 18 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include of the shadow of death (3), and gloom (2), . . . (1), and darkness (1), and deep shadows (1).
Where does צַלְמָוֶת (ṣalmāweṯ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Job 3:5. Its strongest book concentrations include Job (10), Psalms (4), Jeremiah (2), Amos (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itof the shadow of death3×Job 38:17, Psalms 23:4, Isaiah 9:2
and gloom2×Job 3:5, Job 10:21
. . .1×Job 28:3
and darkness1×Jeremiah 2:6
and deep shadows1×Job 16:16
and in the shadow of death1×Psalms 107:10
and the shadow of death1×Psalms 107:14
darkness1×Amos 5:8
deep darkness1×Job 24:17
deep shadow1×Job 34:22
deep shadows1×Job 12:22
into deep gloom1×Jeremiah 13:16
of darkness1×Job 24:17
of deep shadow1×Job 10:22
with deepest darkness1×Psalms 44:19
Show sample aligned rows
Job 3:5וְ֭צַלְמָוֶתtoand gloomConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularJob 10:21וְצַלְמָֽוֶת׃toand gloomConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularJob 10:22צַ֭לְמָוֶתtoof deep shadowNoun - masculine singularJob 12:22צַלְמָֽוֶת׃todeep shadowsNoun - masculine singularJob 16:16צַלְמָֽוֶת׃toand deep shadowsNoun - masculine singularJob 24:17צַלְמָ֑וֶתtodeep darknessNoun - masculine singularJob 24:17צַלְמָֽוֶת׃toof darknessNoun - masculine singularJob 28:3וְצַלְמָֽוֶת׃to. . .Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularJob 34:22צַלְמָ֑וֶתtodeep shadowNoun - masculine singularJob 38:17צַלְמָ֣וֶתtoof the shadow of deathNoun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowJob 3:5
Aligned rows18
Books represented5
Job10Psalms4Isaiah1Jeremiah2Amos1
Source forms
צַלְמָֽוֶת׃3xṣal·mā·weṯJob 12:22, Job 16:16, Job 24:17
וְצַלְמָ֑וֶת2xwə·ṣal·mā·weṯPsalms 107:10, Psalms 107:14
וְצַלְמָֽוֶת׃2xwə·ṣal·mā·weṯJob 10:21, Job 28:3
צַלְמָ֑וֶת2xṣal·mā·weṯJob 24:17, Job 34:22
צַלְמָ֔וֶת2xṣal·mā·weṯIsaiah 9:2, Amos 5:8
בְצַלְמָֽוֶת׃1xḇə·ṣal·mā·weṯPsalms 44:19
וְ֭צַלְמָוֶת1xwə·ṣal·mā·weṯJob 3:5
וְצַלְמָ֔וֶת1xwə·ṣal·mā·weṯJeremiah 2:6
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular10xJob 10:22, Job 12:22, Job 16:16, Job 24:17
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular6xJob 3:5, Job 10:21, Job 28:3, Psalms 107:10
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular1xPsalms 44:19
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular1xJeremiah 13:16
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Metaphorical darkness evoking death's proximity; captures existential dread without naming death directly, used of grave dangers and divine judgment.
Source Gloss
shade of death , i.e. the grave (figuratively, calamity )
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Metaphorical darkness evoking death's proximity; captures existential dread without naming death directly, used of grave dangers and divine judgment.
shade of death, i.e. the grave (figuratively, calamity) BDB: death-shadow Usage: shadow of death.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Shadow of death; deep darkness; gloom; a place of extreme danger and lack of light
Showing 1 selected witness from 18 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.